Automatic station selector



y 23, 1933- s. J. RIDDELL 1,910,057

AUTOMATI C S TATION SELECTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 5542 25; J BZicZdZ wn .w v

A llor ney May 23, 1933.

s. J. RIDDELL 1,910,057

AUTOMATIC STATION SELECTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1931 :s Sheets-Shet 2 V Inventor wzq/ J W l Attorney May 23, 1933. I 5 J R|DDELL 1,910,057

AUTOMATIC STATION SELECTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 tlarney Patented May 23, 1933 srnnnv J. nrnnnrlnion nocnEsrER, vnew Year:

AUTOMATIQ' srn'rron snrnc ron Application filed February 21, 1931. Serial no 517,5117.

The object of this invention isto provide an apparatus that can be connected up to a radio set, and which will operate at regular predetermined intervals to change the setting of the dial of the radio set so as to tune it in on one station'and then on another, each at a predetermined time, whichstations have been selected in advance to make up a fixed program for a given number of hours,

Another object of the invention is to provide a card with a certain number of'radial lines thereon, on each of which canbepunched a hole at-a certain distance from the center thereof to represent by its distance from the center the wave length'of the station selected, Another object of this invention is to change the angular position-of this cardvat predetermined intervals of time tobring each hole therein successively into line with the tuning device and hold it there for a prede termined length of time. v V

Another object of the invention is to cause a member of the tuning device to move back and forth over the card in a predetermined line at predetermined intervals and cause it to engage with one of the holes punched in the card. v V 1 I These and other objects of the invention will be fully illustrated in the drawings, de-

scribed in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof;

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the tuning device embodying the subject matter of my 5 invention. a c 2 Figure 2 isan end elevation partly in section looking at Figure 1 from the right.

Figure 3 isan enlarged detail view of the hinge shown in Figure 1'. v

Figure 4} is a detail view ofthe'cam shown in Figure 2. a I s Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the bent lever shown in Figure 2. Figure 6 is an elevation of the parts shown in Figure 5 looking at it from the right." Figure 7 is a detail view of the pin which closes the electric switch. 7

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the pulleys and beltby which the dial on theradio set 0 is rotated.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the clock mechanism. i f a Y 5 Figure 10 is a diagrammatic viewofa' part of the clock mechanism viewed'from the front for regulating? the 'rotation ofrthe'dial.- f

Figure ll is a diagrammatic viewof apart. of the clock mechanism shownFin'Figure 10 viewed from'the back. 1 i 1 Figure 12 is a perspective view of thepawl that locks the rack.

In the drawings like reference numerals in dicate likeparts. v

In the drawingsfreference' numeral 11indicatesthe tuning dial of the radio set having a'pulley 2 thereon, 3 indicates a larger pulley 7 and 4 indicates the belt :by wh-ichthe larger pulley3 rotates thesmaller pulley2 and shifts the dial on the radio set. 5 indicatesa link by'which the pulley 3 is rotated. This link r at its upper end is pivotally attached at 6'to a lever 7, pivoted at8 on thexframeworkof the apparatus. vOn theright hand end of the lever?- is pivoted a link 9 whichis composed of three'parts, which are numbered 10,11 and F 12 respectively.- The link 12 is of thegreatestlength. The link'll is short and the link 10 is still shorter. The links 11 and 1'2'are connected by the hinge 13, which permits thelink 12 to swing in one direction toward and away from the card 20, and the links 10 7 and 11 are connected bythe pivot 14, which permits the link 10 to swing at right angles to the direction in'which the link12 swings. The link 12 has a long slot 15 therein, which is engaged by two stationary pins 16 and 17 carried on the frame-w orkofthe apparatus by which it isheld to a straight line motion, which is substantiallyradial to the dial 18 which is mounted to turn on the-center 19. The long part 12of the link can swing out ward from the dial: for a purpose which will presently be explained. i Thedial' 18' 's shown infsectionin Figure2 and is'adaptedtoreceive the circular card disc 20 thereon, which disc is clamped in place by the screw 21A having the head 21. 7 On the periphery of the dial-18 is forme'd a series of holes-22 in which. are set aseries of'pins 23. As shown inFigure lf these pins 00 23 are spaced fifteen degrees apart, although lines fifteen degrees apart corresponding to the spacing of the pins. The card" is set so that these lines register with. the pins 23.

On these lines are punched certaih holes, and

, these holes are spaced from the center out, or

from the periphery in, at distances that represent the wave lengths or the differences in the wave lengths of the stations that are broadcasting. The holes at or near the periphery: of'the-card will represent the stations having the lowest wave length and the holesnear the center of the card will represent the stations having the greatest wave length, although it will be understood that this may be reversed,:so that the holes nearest the periphery represent the stations having the longest wave length, and; the holes nearest the center will represent the-stationshaving the shortest wave length.

The zero or starting point of the dial and card is indicated at A in Figure 1 andall will assume that the starting" time 'will be six oclock in the evening; The first line'will then represent six oclock, the second linewill represent six-fifteen'P. and so on around the dialin chronological order. Each" line will represent a point of'time fifteen minutes later thanzthe-preceding line and the twentyfour lines with the spaces 'betweenthem will together represent six hours,.- and any four consecutive" spaces will represent one-hour It will also'be understoodi that the dial 1 is rotated intermittently by a clock-works'and at the endofeach fifteen minutes the clock mechanism will operate to release'the dial and turn it through the anglebetween' the two lines andithenholdit fast in its new position for fifteen minutes, at which time it will be again released and will move forward throughthe-next space.

Onthe link- 12 is carried a pin'25 that is adaptedto engage with any of the pin holes 26' in-thecardl The link 12 movesradially over the card until the pin 25 engages with the desired hole 26; As it does this, it rocks the lever! and moves the link 5 endwise and rotates the pulley 3 and the pulley 2' and moves the dial 1 to the position that is requisite for tuning in on a particular station.

The movement of the link 12 up and down radiallyover thecard is secured as follows. Back of thedial 18 is the clock-works 30. This clock-works has an arbor 19" which car- I'lBS'lZllG dial- 18. It also has ashaft 31 on the end of which is carried a bevel'gear 32, which meshes :with the bevel gear '33. carried on an upright shaft 34. On the upper end of this shaft 34 is a cam 35, shown in top plan view in Figure 4:. This clock-works 30 runs continuously and at the end of every fifteen minute interval it rotates the cam 35 through a quarter turn and turns the disc 18 through an angle of fifteen! degrees or a multiple therefo. VVhenthe cam 35- rotates, the link 12 swings on the hinge 13 and the pin 25 is carried out of engagement with the card20; This releases the card 20 and the disc 18 sothat the disc can revolve. One of the pins 23 then engages the lower end of a sliding link 40,. This link on the lower end is provided with a cam @1. As the dial 18 rotates, the pin below the cam 11 engages it and pushes the link 4011p until the pin 23 has moved past the cam 41. The link slides against the stationary pin 42' and is held against it by'the spring 43. When the I link 10 is pushedup it rooksthe lever? and stretchesthespring 44 and carries the link 12'up-with it. After the pin 23 has passedthe cam 41, the-pin 25 is at ornear the periphery of the card. Then the spring 44 contracts and draws the link 12 down, and in so doing, the 'pin 25 slidesover'the card until it reaches the hole'26'on the line of the card and has movedinto register with the link 7 12, and then the pin drops into the hole he cause the'link is moved in that direction by the spring 45, it being understood that the cam 35has moved far enough in the meantime-to permit the link 12' to swing toward the card.

It will be understood tliatthe'pin 23 lags four spaces behind the lines on the card that are in contact with the pin 25 on the link 12. This is due-to the fact that the pins 23 cooperatewith the link 40 which'is connected with the lever 7 while theholes on the card cooperate with the link 12, and as appears on Figure 1, the link 40 cooperates with the pin 23'on the fourth line following the line that is in contact with thelink 12 and pin 25 carried thereby.

This clock-works 30 runscontinuously' and at the'end of every fifteen minute period it rotates the cam 35 through a quarter turn. l

WVhen the cam 35 rotates, it swings the link 12'outwardly on the hinge 13 and draws the pin 25 out of engagement with the hole'in the card 20. This releases the card2'0 so that the card and the disc 18 can rotate.- After the cam35has moved far enough to draw the pin 25 out of engagement with the card, the cam 'will operate to start therotation of the disc 18 and the card 20; The cam 50 is keyed to the horizontal shaft 31 and rotates with it. 7 It will be understood that the cam 35 is set from five to tendegrees ahead of thecam 50 so that the cam 35 will move the pin 25 out of engagement with the. card20 be fore the cam 50-has moved far enough to release the mechanism controlled thereby.

When the angular movement is completed to that extent, the cam moves the. arm 51 which is carried on the shaft 52. On this same shaft are also carried the arms 53 and 54, constituting in effect a bell crank lever. As the cam 50 rotates the arm 51 swings to the left in Figure 10 and to the right in Figure 11 and this in turn raises the arms 53- and 54. The arm 54 with its upturned end engages the arm 55 which is carried on the shaft 56 and raises the arm out of engagement with the gear wheel 57. This permits the gear wheel 57 to turn. This gear wheel is carried on the shaft 19 and rotates with the dial 18. This gear wheel 57 is rotated by the main spring of the clock, the spring being on the shaft 19. As the gear wheel 57 rotates, the arm 55 drops with its upturned end into the space between the consecutive teeth and engages with the teeth. The arm is lifted out of engagement by the rotation of the cam 60, which cam makes a half revolution for each tooth that the gear wheel 57 advances. This cam through the. arm 59- rocks the shaft 56 and lifts the arm 55 as long as the arm 55 engages in the shallow recesses between the teetlnbut when one of the deep recesses 58 between the teeth comes into line with the upturned end of the arm 55, the arm 55 moves its upturned end into the bottom of the recess and therefore moves through a greater angle and in so doing the arm 55 moves to a position that locks the cam 60 against further rotation, until it is released again by the rotation of the cam 50.

It will be understood that the clock mech anism that is used for this purpose is merely an adaptation of the clock-works that is regularly used for regulating the striking mechanism that is used on many kinds of clocks that strike once on each quarter hour after striking the hour.

It will also be understood that when the upturned end of the arm 55 drops into a deep recess the shaft 56 swings far enough to permit the arm to swing down into engagement with the pin 66 carried on the gear wheel 67 by which the train of mechanism is arrested in that position until the cam 50 operates again to swing the arm 51 and arm 54 to raise the arm 55 which in turn will raise the arm 65 and release the gear 67.

If all of the pins 23 are in position in the dial, the disc 18 will be rotated by this mechanism through fifteen degrees and will be stopped at .the end of each fifteen degree movement and the link 12 and pin 25 will be moved out to the periphery and back toward the center of the card for each pin, but if one or more of the pins 23 is omitted, it will leave a blank space and the pin ahead'of the blank space will lift the link 40 through the cam 41 in the regular way and permit it to drop as soon as it has moved past it and then the pin 25 will move toward the center of the dial until the pin 25 engages the hole in the card and the link 12 and pin 25 will be held in this position by the pawl 71 that will presently be described until the next pin 23 engages with the cam 41 and lifts the link 40 and 'moves the link 12 up causing the pin 25 to .move to the periphery of the card, and when the pin '23 is past the cam 41 the link 40 drops down and at the same time the arm 55 drops into a deep notch 58 and locks the gear 57 against rotation. This holds the card in the correct position, so that as the link12 drops down from its raised position, the pin 25 will travel over one of the radial lines and will engage with the hole in that line, thus setting the dial in the desired position for tuning in on the station desired.

It will be understood that the pin 25 when it is in engagement with a hole in the card is normally being-pressed toward the'center of the card and the center of the dial by the spring 44 andas soon as the pin 25 is moved out of engagement with the hole, the link 12 will normally move toward'the center of the card. If the next pin 23 has been omitted from the dial, and the next hole in the card is concentric with the previous hole, it is desirable to hold the link 12in a fixed position against endwise movement. For this purpose the ratchet rack 70 is provided which is engaged by a pawl 71. This pawl is normally engaged with the rack 70 and holds the link against endwise movement, and where the, pin 23 has been omitted the pawl 71 will remain in engagement with the rack 70, but if the pin 23 is present, then the link 12' is raised by the link 40 and a pin 71A carried on the link 12 engages on'the pawl 71' carried on a pivot 73 and swings the pawl out of engagement with the rack 70. The pawl 71 remains in this position while the link 12 moves down toward the center. When the pin 25 drops into the hole in the card, and the link 12 swings-toward the dial, it engages a Ushaped lever 75 carried on a pivot 76 and moves the' bott'om of it to the right as shown in Figure 5. The upper end of the lever moves to the left'and engages with the hook 77 carried on a pivot 78 and draws the hook out of engagement with the pawl 71, releasing the pawl so that it can drop down into engagement with the rack 7 0. It will be understood that when the pawl 71 is moved up bythe pin 71A, the pawl 71 is engaged by the hook 77 and held in its raised positionthereby until the U-shaped lever 75 'disengages the hook 77 from the pawl.

It will also be understood that when the pin 25 is out of engagement with the card, it is desirable to'interrupt or stop or suspend the operation of the radio set, and for this purpose I provide a switch 80 and arcontact 81 on the lever 12 which makes contact therewith and when the link 12 is moved to the left the circuit is'brok'e'n at this point and punched therein at various distances from the center thereof, means for rotating the card intermittently to bring selected openings to a given control position, means controlled by the distance of the selected opening from the center of the card for setting the tuning elements of the radioset in an angular position corresponding to the distance of said perforations from the'center of the card.

2. The combination of a radio receiving set having tuning elements therein, a card mounted to rotate, said card having openings punched therein at various distances from the center thereof, *means for rotating the card intermittently to bring selected'openings to a given control position, means controlled by the distance of the selected opening from the centerof the card for setting the tuning elements of the radio set in an angular position corresponding to the distance of said perforations from the center of the card, said means operating to rotate said card after regular intervals of time to bring each perforation in the card successively into control position to regulate the tuning'of the radio set. 7

3; The combination of aradio receiving set having tuning elements therein comprising a dial, a pulley on said dial, a second pulley mounted adjacent thereto, a belt for connecting the two pulleys and rotating the dial from the second pulley, a lever mounted to oscillate, a link connecting one end of said lever to a second pulley. for the purpose of rotating it, a card'mounted to'rotate under the other end of said lever, a link moved by the other end of said lever radially over said card, said card having perforations therein at di'lferent distances from the center thereof, said last named link having a-pin thereon that is adapted to engage with the perforations in said card for the purpose of placing the dial of the radio set at a given angular position.

4. The combination of a radio receiving set having tuning elements therein, a devicefor automatically setting the tuning element's thereof, said device comprisingia dial mounted to rotate, a card on said dial divided into sectors, holes punched through said card on a plurality of the division lines between the sectors, means for rotating said dial and the tuning elements intermittently for bringing each division line in turn "to a predetermined position, said device also comprising a pin for engaging said selected hole.

5. The combination of a rasdioreceiving'set having tuning elements therein, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a dial mounted to, rotate, a card onsaid-dial divided into sectors, holes punched through said card on a plurality of the division lines between the sectors, meansfor rotating said dial intermittently for bringing each division line in turn to a predetermined position, a link mounted to move up and down with one end thereof traveling over the card on a radial line and over one of the division lines between the sectors that is in the predetermined position, a pin on the end of said link adapted to engage in the hole on said division line and hold the link in the position fixed thereby.

6. The combination of a radio receiving set having tuning elements therein, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a dial mountedto rotate, a card on said dial divided into sectors, holes punched through said card on a plurality of the division lines between the sectors, means for rotating said dial intermittently for bringing each division line in turn to a predetermined position, a link mounted to move up and down with one end thereof traveling over the card on a radial line and over one of the division lines between the sectors that is in the predetermined position, a pin on the end of said link adapted to engage in the hole on said division line and hold the link in the position fixed thereby, a cam mounted to rotate intermittently to swing one end of the link out of engagement with the card to permit the endwise movement of the link.

7. The combination of a radio receiving set having tuning elements therein, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof,'said device comprising a dial pivotally mounted to rotate therein, pins on the periphery of said dial evenly spaced around the dial, a lever mounted to rock, a link carried on said lever, a cam on the lower end of said link with which any one of the pins on said dial is adapted to engage, said pins causing the endwise movement of the link and the rocking of the lever upon the rotation of the dial.

8. The combination of a radio receiving set having tuning elements therein, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a dial pivotally mounted to rotate therein, pins on the periphery of said dial evenly spaced around the dial, a lever mounted to rock, a link carried on said lever, a cam on the lower end of said link with which any one of the pins on said dial is adapted to engage, said pins causing the endwise movement of the link and the rocking of the lever on the rotation of the dial, a second link pivoted on the outer end of said lever, said second link being caused to move endwise over the dial upon the operation of said lever, means forarresting said second link in a predetermined variable position on said dial after the pin has passed the first named link.

9. The combination of a radio receiving set, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a lever, a link pivotally mounted on the end thereof, a dial mounted to rotate, said dial having pin holes therein, the free end of said link being adapted to travel radially over said dial upon the swinging of the lever, a pin on said link adapted to travel radially over said dial in a fixed path, said pin being adapted to engage with any hole on said dial brought into line with said path.

10. The combination of a radio receiving set, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a lever, a link pivotally mounted on the end thereof, a dial mounted to rotate, the free end of said link being adapted to travel radially over said dial upon the swinging of the lever,

a pin on said link adapted to travel radially over said dial in a fixed path, said pin being adapted to engage with any hole on said dial brought into line with said path, a ratchet rack on said link, a pawl mounted independently of the link and adapted to engage said rack and hold said rack in a given position against movement in one direction.

11. The combination of a radio receiving set, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising alever, a link pivotally mounted on the end thereof, a dial mountedto rotate, the free end of said link being adapted to travel radially over said dial upon the swinging of the lever, a pin on said link adapted to travel radially over said dial in a fixed path, said pin being adapted to, engage with any hole on said dial brought into line with said path, a ratchet rack on said link, a pawl mounted independently of the link and adapted to engage said rack and hold said rack in a given position against movement in one direction, a pin on said link adapted to'engage said pawl and throw it out of engaging position, means for moving said lever and said link far enough to cause said pin to move said pawl out of engagement with the rack.

12. The combination of a radio receiving set having tuning elements therein, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a dial mounted to rotate, a card on said dial divided into sectors, holes punched through said card on a plurality of the division lines between the sectors, means for rotating said dial intermit- 13. The combination of. a radio receiving set having tuning elements therein, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a dial mounted to rotate, a card on said dial divided into sectors, holes punched through said card on I i has been moved out of engagement with the card, means for thereafter causing the pin to 1 engage with another hole in the card.

14. The combination of a radio receiving set having a dial and tuning elements therein, a lever, means connecting one end of the lever with the dial whereby upon the movement of the lever the dial is rotated to correspond, a

7 spring for normally moving the lever in one direction, a second dial having pins thereon means engaged by said pins for moving the lever intermittently in the opposite direction,

a card on said second dial having perforatlons therein, a link on sald lever and a pm on said link adapted to engage the perforations in said card when movedby the spring to set the dial of the radio set in a desired position.

15. The combination of a radio receiving set, a device for automatically setting the tuning elements thereof, said device comprising a lever, a link pivotally mounted on the end thereof, a dial mounted to rotate, the free end of said link being adapted to travel radially over said dial upon the swinging of the lever, a ratchet rack on said link, a pawl mounted independently of the link and adapted to engage said rack and hold said rack in a given position against movement in one direction, a pin on said link adapted to engage said pawl and throw it out of engaging posit-ion, means for moving said lever and said link far enough to cause said pin to move said pawl out of engagement with the rack, a hook adapted to engage with the pawl and hold it out of engagement with the rack,

tently for bringing each division line in turn i to a predetermined position, said means operating to rotate the dial through a predetermined angle after the pin has been moved out of engagement with the card, said pin being carried by said device and operating to engage a hole in the card. 

